I have just completed my annual review with the employer for whom I started working a year ago. They like me. They really like me.
Since starting I’ve had three title upgrades. In the review my work ethic, flexibility, integrity, and focus on making the company better were all singled out for praise.
Of course, no one in the company has a greater breadth of experience than I. How could they? I’m old enough to be the grandfather of a lot of the people there.
Congrats!
You are in an extraordinary situation there. Compared to others you probably stand out on your own merits, but also as you note, as the experienced hand.
This caused me to muse. I haven’t had an annual review in 25 years. When you are a partner in a PE firm and live and die with each investment your “annual review” is an almost constant event. More traditional firms might want to consider a more fluid feedback loop.
Although I remain on the Investment Committee, an official advisor, portco board member and Managing Member of the prior fund, two weeks ago I (and my partner) signed the documents transferring Managing Member status in the current fund to the next generation. It will be interesting to see how long they want me around.
One of my first bosses rated jobs (positions) based on two factors: impact and accountability. From his perspective the best jobs had high impact and low accountability. Your job, clearly better than mine, is high impact, high accountability. My job is low impact, high accountability.
That doesn’t stop me from telling people what they should be doing and aren’t. In the nicest possible way, of course.
Nice work, David! It must feel good to work for people who respect you, and listen to your input on “making the company better.†Too many people in high places feel threatened by others with talent and drive.